Nothing can replace the true feel of an instrument, but sometimes we find ourselves in a place where there aren’t any guitars, drums, synthesizers, or even a piano to play.

There are many best iPhone apps available which could be great for a musician that’s on-the-go. They can be used to compose, tune, play, and even keep your calendar so you’ll never be late to a gig or miss an audition. So which ones are better than the rest? Not all of these iPhone music apps are free, so are you willing to spend up to $20? Even the ones for 99 cents can add up when you keep downloading and not thinking of how many you’ve already bought.

We’ve found some best iPhone apps that would work well for those with a love for playing music.

The PocketGuitar app gives you the option to hear sounds from six different popular stringed instruments. Acoustic-electric guitar, classical guitar, electric guitar, muted guitar, ukulele and bass.
Main features:
This version features bug fixes. Now you can release the strings when lifting your finger and options to save have been improved.

Cleartune is great for tuning your stringed instruments along with brass, woodwinds, tympani and other instrument that can sustain a tone.
the uniquie note wheel interfaces allows you to quickly find the desired pitch, pairing with a highly responsive fine-tuning meter for the perfect tune.
Features:

Bebot is a polyphonic musical synthesizer with a unique multitouch control method. You’ll find four synthesizer modes are available with analog-sounding filters, a delay/ looping effect and overdrive distortion. Bebot also gives you the opportunity to play along with your iPhone/ iPod touch music.

Features:

An improved overdrive effect gives you pre-mixer mode for cleaner and more ersatile distortion effects

Presets for loading and saving

New chorus effect adds depth to your sounds

Quick access to on-screen hotkeys giving you more control and better playability

This is a cool app if you’re looking to create new rhythms. Finger Beat was inspired by retro synthesizers and samplers You are able to record external sounds using the built-in microphone or load existing ones from the library.

iTunes
$7.99
This app provides a real synthesizer and drum machine. The latest version 1.0.5 released on July 18th, has improved many imperfections from the past. It’s been tested on 3.0 and now works like a charm. Rangrid synthesizer and drum machine has a great user interface making it easy to create some really cool techno beats. You can even find some video tutorials on their website http://randgrid.com/.

GigBaby Free is a great app for songwriting. The free version allows you to up to four setlists while the paid version has up to 42. The track to track synchronization issues have been resolved in this latest version. The recording device could use a little improvement, but considering you can have something so complex in your pocket, it’s not too bad.

Features

Record and layer multiple audio tracks

Monitor and mix tracks

Metronome includes a feature to set tempo by feel

Adjust tempo with calibrated slider bar

Volume adjustment for beat pattern

Manage multiple songs with setlist

12. iSequence byBeepStreet

iTunes
$2.99
The iSequence is designed to compose and play music in a production environment. Though there is always room for improvements, it’s a great app for those inspiring DJs.

Music composition has been made easier with Piano Sharp. The latest version has improved the user interface and fixed known bugs. You now have the ability to play all or selected tracks of imported MIDI files.

Guitar is an acoustic guitar app which allows you to learn and play songs. The latest version includes export recording to audio track, backtracking tracks, some bug fixes and AirPlay filter improvements

Practice makes perfect and you too can play beautiful music with the Ocarina iPhone and iPod touch app. In the most recent update, Smule developers have included a touch mode which allows iPod touch users to play strictly with their hands. iPhone users blow into the mic, then press the holes to change the pitch.

So whether you are a musician or simply an enthusiast of music, you can enhance your performance (or just have some fun) with any of these musical best iPhone apps.

I tend to agree with Ruby. I also own most of these and a few more, but it seems to me that the ones which try to emulate the traditional interface (strings, keys, pic of a drum kit, etc…) are not nearly as usable as the apps with custom interfaces. A lot of these could be seperated in to novelty apps and serious musical apps.

I understand the sentiment, but Bebot is not a toy even though it has a cutesy interface. You can do a lot with it, and it is even used live for at least one solo by Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater. Noise.IO is certainly not a toy too – I can’t recall the name of the band that is utilizing it for their shows and recordings regularly but it definitely isn’t a toy either.
Wivi Band is also great, made by one of the best woodwind and brass orchestral library creators in the industry. If Ocarina got a mention, Wivi should have as well as it is going to eclipse Ocarina (at least with musicians) IMO.

I have quite a few music apps on my iPhone – 2 of which are listed above – Noise.io Pro and Beatmaker. These 2 apps can work together. I recommend people also have a look at Guitar Pro – which links with Beatmaker too, and Shaker – an excellent free percussion app.

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Bettyhttp://electricguitarhowtoplay.net

Another one to checkout is iBone.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGqFk2cEoYc
Unlike a lot of the simulator apps, it’s very playable — especially if you play trombone. It also lets you jam with your iPod music and includes several songs which it shows you how to play.

Please check out iPlay CG and iPlay CF – A music app designed for performing music even while you’re walking around. You can record your performances and share them with users around the world. With the built-in music trainer, you can quickly learn how to play other users’ performances as well. Have a good day everyone. I hope you enjoy my apps.

Nice list of iPhone Apps you sorted here. If you’re looking for more music apps to put on your list, check the “SetlistMonkey” app. Very helpfull for musicians during gigs or rehearsals. It also includes an arcustic metronom and gives you the ability to build different setlists.http://setlist-monkey.com/
It would be nice, if you compare your notes with us.

May I suggest Maestro. Made for musicians in order to compose music by using a simple, yet powerful UI and set of features. MusicXML compatible and just $0.99 . Personally I use it and I think it’s awesome.

This is a great collection, I found a lot of great, useful apps listed here that I haven’t been familiar with before!
I have been using Tempo as my metronome for months and with the last update it indeed has no competition. Being an active musician (percussionist, drummer) I definitely recommend it!
Cleartune has a very beautiful design and works smoothly, but I’m not completely satisfied with it especially when I’m tuning a Timpani.
Some more music/sound related apps I find useful or entertaining (both free and paid):
Recorder Pro (formerly iDicto)
Tweaky Beat
NLog (Free)
synthPond (very creative, amazing!)
AmazingSlowDowner (has lite version, desktop version as well)
DrumMeister
TrueDrums (Lite)
Thanks!

If you like these apps be sure to check out my latest instrument app StretchyBand!
You get 8 default instruments (guitar, drums, piano, and more), but you can also build your very own custom instruments!
Great 3D graphics, over 200 sounds available, and rubberband-like physics!

Those are some very cool apps. Another cool one is the AmpliTube iRig. With the iRig you can plug your guitar into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad and jam anywhere with world class guitar and bass tone right in the palm of your hand.Broadjam.com is giving away 3 AmpliTube iRig. Check out this blog post for more details: http://www.broadjam.com/blog/ik-multimedia-blog-giveaway/
All you need to do is sign up for a free account at Broadjam and answer the questions listed. Thanks.